Since the Corpsmen used to give us short arm inspections, we use to call them pecker checkers. Of course if you needed one he was Sir. I smashed my right index finger under a 20 MM box of ammo and it was swelled up and black and blue and killing me. I went to see the Corpsman as I needed some relief. He had a big paper clip which he unwound so as to have a single round piece sticking out. He held it over a Zippo until it was red hot and put it to my finger nail. When it burnt it’s way through it went straight to the bone and the blood flew all over and I let out a yell that could be heard all the way to Po Hang Dong, down by the sea. After the blood let up the pressure was off and so was the pain. I had to hold it above my heart for a few days as every time my heart beat it would throb. I also had a few stitches put in by the same Doc and he should have been a surgeon. He was an old salt with tattoos from one end to the other but he knew his business. I was told he was a hold over from the Island campaigns.
Category: Main
My personal hero
I met Gunny Basilone when he was on a war bond drive at the age of 12 and that very day decided to be a Marine. Enlisted on my 17th birthday, twice wounded in Korea and retired at age 32 as a result of the wounds. Have never regretted it – would do it all over again. Than you Gunnery Sergeant Basilone.
RNLMC logo and Anchor. QPO. Qua Patet Orbis
The anchor on the arm and Dutch Marines logo since Dec. 10 1665. Qua Patet Orbis – As Far As The World Extends. Ooraaagh .
Marine and Friends Cruise
Retired Marine Jeff Covert, and his Marine Corps Veteran battle buddy, Tony Tijerina would like to invite any and all to our annual Marines and Friends Veteran Cruise. WE FEW, we mighty few, we small band of brothers just returned from another Marines and Friends Cruise celebrating the Marine Corps birthday at sea aboard a vacatoin cruise ship!!! As another successful reunion of arrives in our history books, we have scheduled next years cruise. On 12 November 2017, we sail out of San Juan, Puerto Rico and visit St Kitts, St Martinique, St Thomas, St Marteen and Bridgetown Barbados,. Myself, and fellow Marine Tony Tijerina organize this cruise as our annual vacation from our own careers. Our Hobby is to provide a fun week of activities for any group of Marines, together with their own family and friends, who enjoy visiting with Marines from every generation. More information can be found at www.cruiseUSMC.com, Or you can just email me at j.covert@icloud.com
Congressman or Lady
Someone SHOULD be able to HELP You. A request to your Senators and Congressman…! There is NO reason the VA is screwing with you like they are… You CAN get HELP…!
Swoopin’
I was stationed at NCAA Beaufort, SC from ’65 – ’68. Marines from MCAS and PI would “Swoop” north to Philly, NYC and north for the weekend. Around Richmond we would pick up Cousin Brucie in WABC on the radio and knew we were almost home. 14 hrs was considered good travel time. I lived in Philly, now in South Jersey near Exit #3 of the NJTrnPke and still remember those wek-end drops and pick-ups. Semper Fi to all Swoopers.
Pvt BB
I was traveling through rural South Louisiana (Cajun country) and came across this mailbox. No one was home so I didn’t get to meet anyone. Illustrates that Marines can be proud of their service and The Corp!
Drill Instructor do have a heart and passion
I started boot camp MCRD SD Feb 5th 1960. My Di’s were Sgt Hardy and Sgt Harr, very tough and rough Marines. I was the youngest and the smallest in my plt. 216. Needless to say I got a lot of attention and none of it good. They used to grab me by my stacking swivel (my adams apple) and squeeze and ask me the eleven general orders and other things. Also they would stand in front of us when at attention and hit us in the stomach hard. Before we went to Camp Mathews we did a px call, we all had to buy chewing tobacco and we found out later why. They said that the smoking lamp would not be lit at Mathews, that was fine with me because I didn’t smoke anyway. So why the chewing tobacco?
General Ray Davis and the Tiger
“Corporal Reeves! Get your gear and follow me” the Gunny said as I hung sleepily onto a dream I was having of cool mountain streams, awaking to Gunny Randall’s course Drill Instructors voice out side my squad’s earth bermed hooch at Quang Tri Combat Base. Home of the Third Marine Division, Republic of Viet Nam 1968. I had injured my back falling out of a helicopter into elephant grass on a nameless hill near Khe Sanh. I was not hurting much now so the Gunny had made me the commanding officer’s driver and radioman. I went over to the motor pool with the Gunny.
Thanksgiving 1966
As I sit and reminisce of where I was on Thanksgiving Day, 1966, this is what comes to mind: Mike Co 3/5 was on 3 hills west of Chu Lai. One platoon was on each hill. I was in 81 mortar attached to one of those platoons. It was the monsoon season. The hilltop had been stripped of all vegetation. The mud was so deep that you mired up halfway to the top of your boots. I had eaten C-ration for over a month. No hot messhall food at all during this time, not even on the Marine Corps birthday because we were in the field on Operation Mustang. If I remember correctly, a chopper came in with our birthday treat, a can of nuts and a slice of cake.